Improvement in methods of producing evenly-congealed ice-surfacei



J. GAMGBE. Method of Producing Evenly congealed Ice Surfaces.

No. 196,653. Patented Oct. 30, 18771 N TED 11 STATESy PATENT rrrrfi JOHN GAMGEE, OF CHELSEA, GREAT BRITAIN.

IMPROVEMENT IN METHODS OF PRODUCING EVENLY-CONGEALED ICE-SURFACE;

. Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 196,653, dated October 30, 1877; application filed October 16, 1877 patent-ed in England, October 28, 1876.

or Apparatus for Forming and Maintaining Ice Surfaces and for Cooling Chambers, of

which the following is a specification:

The primary object of my invention is to effect the freezing of a large surface of water more quickly,-andto maintain it inahard frozen state, suitable for being skated upon, or for other purposes, more effectually and regularly than has been accomplished heretofore.

According to my present improvements I cause the "cooling-liquid to circulate through the pipes or cells composing the freezing-floor of the ice-surface or rink in a manner which I call direct alternate circulation, and which consists in causing a supply of the refrigerat ing-liquid to flow directly from one side or end of the rink or ice floor to its corresponding opposite side or end through each alternate pipe or cell, andthence away to the refrigerator or other cooling or storing chamber, and another and separate supply of the refrigerating-liquid toflow directly from the other side or end of the rink or ice-floor to its corresponding opposite side or end, through each alternate pipe orcell placed between the first mentioned al ternate pipes or cells, and thence back to the refrigerator'or other cooling or storing chamber; By this arrangement one supply of the refrigerathig-liquid flows through a set of pipes in" one direction, and a second supply of the refrigerating-liquid flows in the opposite direction through another-set of pipes interspaced between those of the-first set, whereb the cooling eflect is more nearly equalized a 1 over the surface of the ice floor than by the methods of circulation heretofore employed;

In order to carry into eflect this part of my invention, I connect one alternate set of floor pipes or cells at oneend to an inlet-pipe, and

at the other end to an outlet-pipe, and theother'alternate set of pipes or'cells at one end to a second inletpipe, and at the other to a second outlet-pipe,:placing, by preference, the inlet-pipe of the first set and the outlet-pipe of the second set at one side or end of the rink or ice floor, and the inlet-pipe of the second and the outlct;pipe of the first set at the other side or end of the rink or ice floonthe said inlet and outlet pipes being connected to the floor pipes or cells by any suitable o1" convenient joints or junctions, and arran ged with reference to each other, as circumstances may require.

Figure 1 of the annexed drawings repre' sents a sectional elevation of ail-arrangement of pipes suited for the formation of a rink or ice floor in accordance with the system of direct alternate circulation hereinbefore referred to. Fig. 2 is a plan of the same.

A is the main supply or inlet pipe for the conveyance of the refrigerating-liquid from the refrigerator or other cooling or storing chain.- her to one side or end of the rink or ice floor; A, the main supply or inlet pipe for the com veyance of the refrigerating-liquid from the refrigerator or other cooling or storing chainber to the opposite side or end of the rink or ice floor; B B, the corresponding return or outlet pipes for the conveyance-of the refrigcrating-liquid from the rink back to the refrigerator or other cooling apparatusor agent. 0 O G O are the floor pipes orcells, which Iprefer to be of the section shown in Fig.1; DD, the branches connecting the inlet-pipes A A, respectively, with the inlet ends of the said floor pipes or cells C O and GO and E E, the branchesconnectin'g the outlet-pipes B B, respectively, with the outlet ends of the said floor pipes or, cells C G and G C.

Itwill easily be understood that the refrigerating-liquid brought by the pipe A passes by the branches D D into each alternate lioorpipc or cell 0 G, and, after traversing the latter. cscapes by the branches E E into the outlet-pipe B, and'that the refrigerating-liquid brought by the pipe A passes by the branches 1) 1), into each alternate floor pipe or cell C G, at the end opposite to that at which the liquid enters the adjacent pipes or cells C G, and, after traversing the said floor pipes or cells C G, escapes by the branches E E into the outlet-pipe B.

The source of supply to the inlet pipes A A must, of course, be elevated above the level of the outlet-pipes B B, or other means must be employed (such for example as pumps) to force the liq-id to circulate through the pipes" of them) of cooling chambers" or meme; the at the required speed; r

In the figures'the' inlet and outlet pipes are for the purpose of keeping cool the air and.

shown placed above the level of the floor pipes other contents of such rooms. or cells, but it will be obvious that they may be Having now described the nature of my-said placed in any convenient position with refer- 'nvention, and in what manper the same is to ence thereto, and thebiancli pipes connected be performed, I declare that I claim to them by any-suitable joints or couplings. I In ice skating-rinks, the combination of the refrigerating liquid circulating iii-such pipes By these means the circulation of the'refiigerfreezing-pipes passing through the'v'vater to be atingdiquid is direct from one-side or end to frozen with independent feeding mains, adthe other, and back to the refrigerator, and in joining pipes leading from the difierent mains, alternate directions, whereby greater uniformwhereby the current of refrigerating-liquid ocity of efi'ecti's' obtained than by the ordinary" curs from opposite sidesfor each alternatetube, method of circulation. l I substantially as hereinbefore described and set The drawing illustrates the application of forth. my cirectalternate circulating systemto the formation of an ice-floor for skating or other p H G purposes,-but it will-be readily understood'tliai Witnesses; similar arrangements of pipes may b applied JNQ- i, PICKE'TT, 

